I received an email from Debbie earlier this week. She said, "Have you ever considered doing a biscornu shaped pin cushion using fabric?" If you've followed this blog for any length of time then you have probably surmised that I'm a bit addicted to these wonky, stuffed pin cushions, typically made from some variation of charted- or counted-thread stitching on light canvas or linen.
But what about fabric?
So this week, I reached into one of my ScrapTherapy bins, pulled out some 3-1/2" scrap squares and decided to give it a go. A quick, more-pictures-than-words summary of the steps I took follows:
First I pulled out two each of four different 3-1/2" square scrap prints from my ScrapTherapy bins and made half-square triangles. (You know the drill, draw a corner-to-corner diagonal line on the back of half the squares, place two right sides together, sew 1/4" from each side of the line, cut apart, press and trim to 3" square.)
I arranged the half-square triangles into to 'broken dishes' blocks. Sewed and pressed.
Then I set up the blocks to sew the first side, just like the first step in making a stitched biscornu.
Unlike the stitched biscornu, I need to place these blocks right sides together to sew them. But before I sew, I need to slide each panel to offset the 1/4" ends (see the photo above, then the one here for the before-and-after the 'slide').
Notice that I'm also going to temporarily pull the vertical block seams out of the way (squiggly arrows) . . .
. . . to sew between the 1/4" seam allowances. I started and stopped with a back stitch at each end (so it looks like the first photo below, then the one below it, once sewn.
I continue to make my way around the edge, one side at a time, stopping and starting for each short side seam.
This is important! I had to remove a 1/4"-worth of stitching on the vertical and horizontal seam ends to allow the pieces to nestle together for sewing. (See the circled section in the photos above and below? - that's actually the same spot, even though one is at the top of the photo and the other is at the bottom of the photo)
Continue one side at a time around the block until all except one 'side' is sewn.
Looks like a hot mess. . .
Then turn the biscornu inside out and it doesn't look so hot-messy anymore.
Add stuffin'. I like to use leftover wool batting scraps.
Then close that last seam with hand stitching.
I must say, I was getting a little anxious to see the result at this point, so my stitches aren't very tidy. But they did the trick.
Add a button to each side to tuft.
Ta-done! The 'top' view. Then the bottom view--Completely reversible!
And the side view.
Funny, I always have the strange feeling that 'someone' is watching me when I do this stuff. Wonder why?
Keeping it real. My first attempt (not pictured here) was a complete flop. Instead of a broken dishes block, I made pinwheel blocks. But I think the magic of the biscornu is the implied triangles that make the side view. Even on the stitched versions, most of the charts I've seen have a pattern that acknowledges that part of the top and bottom square panels that bends over the side in some way, and the pinwheel didn't do that, but the broken dishes block does.
Plus, attempt number 1 was too small, and it was really difficult to manipulate the seam allowances to get good side seams. Starting with the 3-1/2" scrap squares was much better.
If you're not a stitcher, it's nice to know that there's a quilty version of these cute, and take-my-word, very addictive wonky-shaped softies.
Give it a try? Let me know how it works. It'll cost you a few fabric scraps (who doesn't have those?) and a little bit of time. If you're not into dimensional stuff, this can be a little tricky, so if flat is your thing, this may not be for you. In the meantime, . . .
Happy Stitching!
Joan
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Earlier this year (or was it last year?) I discovered the addiction of biscornu-making. This book (affiliate link) does a really nice job of explaining the steps of the process and has a bunch of patterns.
Once you've made a couple biscornu, you realize that the process can be repeated with any sort of counted canvas type stitching, as long as the top and bottom design are back-stitch bordered with exactly the same number of stitches. The border must be a square, and must have an even number of stitches, divided easily.
I found this seagull pattern in the September issue of Cross Stitcher Magazine. I made up the blackwork pattern on some graph paper and used the same thread color combination on top and bottom, so they 'match' even though they don't 'match.' Once both panels were completely stitched and bordered, I was ready for the last few steps.
To make the wonky, zig-zaggy shape, you place the corner of the top panel, centered on one side of the bottom panel. A pin or two keeps things in place.
Notice that both panels are right sides up, unlike in quilting where something like this would be placed right sides together. Then I whip-stitched each and every backstitch loop, grabbing thread only, not canvas with each pass.
Turning the corner can be a little tricky, but following a one-stitch-at-a-time process, the corner is tackled. The pin placed strategically where the center and corner meet helped to keep me on track.
When I reach the last side, I stop.
Since I use wool batting for my quilts, I have lots of leftover bits that make perfect biscornu/pin cushion stuffing.
I like them stuffed really generously, then I'm ready to finish the stitching along the last edge to close it all up.
Once stitched, a small mini-button adds the final touch to a tufted, squishy, irresistible addition to my collection!
And there you have it!
Cross stitch top . . .
. . . and blackwork bottom.
Of course, this one is completely reversible.
The finishing whip-stitch process takes me a good couple of hours paired with audio book or TV time, and it's pretty detailed work.
What's next?
I have about a million things I can pull out of my to-get-done pile to work on next, but for some silly reason, this stack of 2-1/2" squares from a several-years-old Maywood Studios collection by Marti Michell was calling to me. Add a few stash fabrics and a requisite bird print and we'll see where this goes.
You know how it is, when the shiny new object (actually this little pack has been around for quite a while) calls, you have to answer!
I try to do at least an hour or two of machine sewing in the morning before transitioning to the computer where the daily tasks form a list about a mile long. Lately, small, easy projects and quick finishes are drawing me in, so I'm going with it. Evenings are for handwork projects like feeding the biscornu addiction.
Happy Stitching!
Joan
Last week I headed south to Atlanta for some time with my business coach. Lots of new ideas in the works, for new programs and for The FLOCK.
Two weeks ago, I showed you a photo of this project in its earliest stages. It was just a pile of blocks and some fabric choices a couple weeks ago.
These blocks started as a Hardanger sampler, including, I think maybe 12 blocks. I made 5 of the (about) 4" square stitcheries, then I ran out of thread.
Sure, I could have purchased more thread in this color, but instead decided to add some borders (in quilting fabric) to each square and make something from the five blocks. Here you see the bordered blocks, layered and ready to pin-baste and quilt. Notice that I added an extra layer of fabric (the dark brown) under the quilt top to secure the batting beneath it. The embroidery has some cut-away sections, so an extra lining was needed.
With the layers sandwiched, I did some simple quilting to hold everything together.
Then added the binding.
As an afterthought, I felt that this runner could also hang on the wall in some of those narrow wall-spaces in my home, so I added a hanging sleeve.
The bound-but-not-sewn project went into my travel bag so that I could secure the folded edge of the binding to the back of the project during my flight.
Lucky me, I had an empty chair next to me on the plane and was able to finish up this project before the flight landed in Georgia!
Perfect use of flying time!
Here is a close up of one of the blocks.
Notice that I added some machine quilting within the hand stitching area to keep the puffed-up-center-effect down.
In between everything, I'm making progress on this blue-and-green Split the Check quilt (pattern found in the book ScrapTherapy, The Versatile Nine Patch)
This project is in preparation for an upcoming cruise - not the 2020 Hawaii cruise - that's going to be a different, all-new project TBD). This is for a 2021 cruise that has not been announced yet. Stay tuned.
Finally, the travel project that made it from my basket of projects into my travel bag is this little cross-stitch seagull piece. The pattern is from the September 2018 issue of Cross Stitcher magazine.
I worked on it quite a lot, both on the plane and in the evenings at the hotel.
The pattern calls for these little seagulls to become a pin cushion. . . . . . .but I think I'm going to turn it into another entry into my biscornu collection. I created a plain blackwork panel design for the biscornu backing - it's shown, in progress, on the right side of the photo below, inside the hoop.
I suspect the little chart I made up could stand alone as its own little project. We'll see. . .
Happy Stitching!
Joan
There is something about Spring--growing grass, buds and flowers on trees, tulips and Spring blooms making their way through packed dirt--that awakens the 'tidy-up' bug in me. I like organized stuff, but I'm not always the best at keeping things that way.
I really like to work on stitching and hand work in the evening while watching TV or listening to a book. Since most of my stitchery projects are small, or they are small parts of a bigger series, I tend to flit from one project to the next a lot. For example, I'm already working on my Christmas card ornaments for this year.
Since they're fairly detailed, I decided early on that I'd be in good shape for next holiday season if I did one each week, so I don't get tired of them or stressed over it if I saved it up and did them all in one lump. I started in January--way ahead of schedule! (Yay me!)
I usually focus my energy on one main project - like the Hummingbird cross stitch piece I recently finished - and give myself little breaks with something small like this colorful set of small stitchery pieces that are in their earliest stages. This may become models to show you that border technique I keep jawing about.
All those in-process projects became a stack of messy-ness on the sofa next to where I usually sit. On Saturday, I started in on a Spring Cleaning snit, threw a bunch of old stuff away, clearing space for new stuff (magazines, mostly) I wanted to keep, minimizing that ugly pile.
Then I found this lovely handmade basket (Patty F., do you recognize this?) that really needed to serve a special purpose.
Now this basket full of little packets of stitchy goodness sits neatly on the floor right next to my evening sewing spot. It's actually much more fun to pull out a little packet of stitchy-good-ness and start in with my evening's selected project!
When I get the tidy-bug, I sure can milk it!
A Spring Cleaning Special for you!
Most of my sewing storage is in the basement, so while I was filling up my Special Stitchy Basket, I made several trips up and down the stairs, and this box of Your Nest Organizers, still leftover from what I brought with me to Quilt Market and Festival last fall, caught my attention.
No worries, still plenty of Your Nest Organizers at the warehouse in all seven colors, but these few, are all that are left here in my basement. I'd really rather give you one last chance to SAVE some money on these well-traveled Nests than SPEND the money to ship them back to the warehouse! So, EVERYbody wins!
With Mother's Day right around the corner and my Spring Cleaning bug, this seems like such a nice fit with the whole Spring Tidy-Up concept. However, I only have five of the available seven colors in stock in my basement available for this promotion.
Here's the Spring Cleaning Special
From now until April 29th and while supplies last (the supplies in my basement, that is). You can order Your Nest Organizers in these colors:
Raven, Cardinal, Bluebird, Hummingbird, and Flamingo
at $18.95 each and pay $0 to ship them.
(Sorry, US orders only)
The free shipping special ends at Midnight (east coast time) on April 29th, 2019.
To get this offer, click the button below to make your color selection.
You have to use this special link, otherwise, if you use another link shipping will be added to your purchase.
Happy Spring Cleaning and Happy Stitching!
Joan
Without getting into too much detail, Dave had some medical tests two weeks ago that resulted in his getting Pancreatitis. Painful and potentially dangerous stuff, putting him in the hospital for about a week for observation and to move slowly from no food intake to liquid-only diet to a strict non-fat diet until his gallbladder is removed (the test confirmed that he has gall stones that are too big to be removed without removing the entire gallbladder) later this year.
This all made my last couple weeks a 'little bit' stressful. Things are much better now and everything is getting back to a routine, but I found myself in the position to learn very quickly what foods are included in a low-fat diet. Actually this is going to be a good exercise for both Dave and me. And, of course, there's always a way to clever-up some mini-bagels, jam, and fruit, right?
(I'm not sure Dave appreciated my efforts to create this low-fat 'Happy Meal!')
In between back-and-forth trips to the hospital to check up on Dave's progress, I managed to steal away some time to finish up a couple of near-complete projects. This hummingbird cross stitch quilt that was started earlier this year is complete.
This has been a detailed step-by-step process: Cross stitch the main image, add the border in one piece with my sneaky applique technique, layer and machine quilt the borders, quilt the center with seed stitches by hand, embellish the border seam with four different blue perle cotton colors, then bind.
The photos in full sunshine, don't effectively convey the varied texture and dimension all these steps added to this wall-hanging piece.
It's going to go in the Genesee Valley Quilt Fest show later next month. So if you're in the area, you will be able to get up close and personal there.
This table topper (approximately 40" across) featuring four 8" blocks from The FLOCK is also complete. Last time I mentioned it here, I think it still needed a bit of quilting and the binding. All that is done now.
I am hoping to include this pattern as a bonus pattern for FLOCK members soon, but, understandably, the pattern is off to a somewhat slow start. . soon is as best I can promise right now.
The first couple days at the hospital meant a lot of sitting and waiting for test results and doctor visits and updates. I was glad to have my Erica Michaels alphabet project, and the letter "F" and all necessary threads and tools ready to go in a project pouch.
I started this block during hospital visiting times, and completed the 'foxy' F block just a couple days ago. 'G' and its featured Goose are up next.
I am continuing to incorporate the stitching/border technique I'm developing for stitchy/quilty combination stuff.
I keep promising more how-to details, and they will come, but this isn't the week. The process has lots of steps, but I really like the end result. Hey, if you've spent the time on the stitching, what's a few extra steps to make a dramatic finish, right?
More to come on this, I promise!
And then, of course, I'm a "Game of Thrones" follower - read the books, watched the series from the start.
These socks with the Seven Kingdoms' sigils, a gift from a friend, put me in the appropriate attitude for the first episode of the final season.
Happy Stitching! And Happy Easter!
Joan
A quick one-day trip to Lancaster, PA with some girlfriends this weekend brought all kinds of inspiration!
The AQS Quilt Week show had plenty to see, and lots of vendors with enticing goodies. For the most part, I kept my wallet in check - pretty unusual for me, but it's tax month and I need a new set of brakes on my car, so those things can really put a damper on spending.
Still and all, there was plenty to catch my interest at the show. People sometimes call me crazy when they see the small pieces I have used in my quilts ("99 Bottles," from the cover of ScrapTherapy, Scraps Plus One, for example!) This quilt, made by Angela Petrocelli, is just covered with teeny tiny flying geese! I wonder if Angela gets 'grief' from her quilty friends for her itty-bitty quilty tastes! *Wink!*
It was nice to see an example of cross stitch worked into some of the show quilts - this one called 'Halo Star' by Annabelle Dollins has some cross stitch cornerstones and borders. (Detail, then full quilt below)
Featured Artist: Bethanne Nemesh
The show had an entire section dedicated to the exquisite work of local quilter Bethanne Nemesh. Perhaps I was drawn to them because she uses a lot of bird imagery in her quilts, or perhaps because the level of detail is inspiring. For whatever reason, I was blown away by her work on display, including this centerpiece bench entitled "Sitting Pretty" The detail in the quilting and the couched threads and yarns is just 'wow!'
Bethanne's beaded piping is a signature technique that appears in many of her pieces, both along the binding (as shown) or incorporated in various parts of the quilt. It adds elegant texture to some already awe-inspiring work.
The Rogue Show
We discovered that a separate quilt show was going on simultaneously with the AQS show over the weekend. This one (The Lancaster Quilt Show) was at a nearby hotel. We hopped in the car after lunch with plenty of time left to shop and look. Here is a birds eye view of part of the vendor area at this secondary show.
Always nice to see Your Nest Organizers 'in the wild!' This short stack was all that was left in the Bee Happy Quilting Booth (Union City, PA)
Also nice to meet people you previously only know online. The charming Ms. Rachel Rossi had a booth at the 'rogue' show and we got to meet in person in her booth.
Projects Moving Along
During the trip, we took some time in the evening to do some social sewing in our hotel lobby/lounge area. I finished the seed stitching in the background for my hummingbird project. But now, I've decided to keep going with a little more embellishment along the border edge. Right now, I'm adding a simple chain stitch in dark blue perle cotton, but there is more to come! This may be the project that never gets done. But I certainly am enjoying the journey!
To break things up a bit, I started and finished this little needle book inspired by a pattern in the March 2019 issue of Cross Stitcher Magazine. My mom used to call the dragonflies that criss-crossed the surface of the pond sewing needles. So this little case is very appropriate and handy. It's great to hold my tapestry needles, and it is small enough to fit nicely into my project bags for stitching on the go.
And that table runner I started a couple weeks ago, which features four of the blocks from The FLOCK collection is moving right along as well. I'm working on the machine quilting in between other 'distractions.' Eventually, I suspect I'll make this up into a bonus pattern for FLOCK members. Are you a member yet? Wanna give it a try? More info on The FLOCK here.
Happy Stitching!
Joan
